10 Fashion School Grads Making Waves Now

With Memorial Day behind us, it’s nothing but summer Fridays and weekend getaways ahead. But for the graduating class of 2014, these warm months will likely be spent searching for internships and jobs—something to put those classes in draping, sketching, and color theory to good use. Luckily, with the wealth of talent coming out of U.S. schools this year, there’s no doubt we’ll be seeing at least some of their names in lights (or rather, stitched onto labels) down the road. From the Savannah College of Art and Design to Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute, here are the top ten fashion school graduates we have our eyes on.

What first inspired you to study fashion? I didn’t always see myself as a fashion designer, despite having my sights set on attending SCAD from a very young age. Once I got there and started classes in life drawing and creative thinking, I felt drawn to how forms interact with the body.

Are there any special techniques incorporated into your designs? My collection is made completely of knits and skins, with no closures (zippers, buttons, etc.) whatsoever. The skins feature a thick, elastic waistband that allows the garments to slip on and off, while the knits are strictly cut-and-sew, making them easy to pull over.

When did you first want to study fashion? I used to be a painter, but after being introduced to the work that Nicolas Ghesquière had been doing for Balenciaga, I became fascinated with the manipulation of textiles.

Are there any special techniques incorporated into your designs? Many of my fabrics were hand-painted and screen-printed before I even knew what it was that I wanted to make out of them.

When did you first want to study fashion? My mother inspired me to study fashion. Some of my earliest memories are of watching her sew—her concentration, her calm, and how her hand could make just about anything beautiful.

Are there any special techniques incorporated into your designs? Each piece in my collection was hand-painted with either an airbrush or a can of spray-paint.

Are there any special techniques incorporated into your designs? I used a lamé that contained both gold and silver fibers, causing the pleated kilt I designed to have a dynamic liquid effect on the runway. My silver wool and silk jacket was designed with hidden magnetic closures sewn into the facings.

Are there any special techniques incorporated into your designs? My mom’s elephant figurine collection was the main inspiration for my thesis collection. While browsing through different materials, I made a visual connection between the elastic band and elephant skin. So I wanted to incorporate the simplicity of an elastic band into my collection in an innovative way.

Describe your senior collection in three words: Children of Leningradsky.Are there any special techniques incorporated into your designs? The fabrics are all bonded and treated with different bleaching techniques before I layer and drape them in a way that’s very design-as-I-sew.